Box and plunger and blank registering mechanism.



M. E. PETERS, G. H. FATH & A. F. MILLER. BOX AND PLUNGER AND BLANK REGISTERING MECHANISM.

v I APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, I9I6.

Patented May 22,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

&

M. 'E. PETERS, G. H. FATH & A. F. MILLER. BOX AND PLUNGER AND BLANK REGISTERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1916. 1,226,995.

Patented May 22, 1917 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- l a I I. 92;

I 4 J20 O Z9 9!; 49

7a 5 J I 55 Z2 Z 19A 1 s l J2 l 3 6 J9 i g L 24 25 i 9/25 22 0 Z 6 66 if??? P i 5 M. E. PETERS, G. H. FATH & A. F. MILLER.

BOX AND PLUNGER AND BLANK REGISTERING MECHANISM.

A PPUCATION FILED APR. 28, 1916- 1 ,226,995. Patented May 22, 1917.

3 SHEEIS-SHEET 3- IJI ZZ .9 I

71 J5 J09 Z1 7 I 75 53 5.9 91 .95 k :i; .56

J7 Z20 i 59 f 6 r? I 6 5206x5075 5 54 M51551" @5 Mfg.

1,4: mmms ntrsns co.. Pnom-Llrnu. vusnmnmu. u l

UNITED ST ES PATENT, OFFICE.

MELVILLE E. rnrnnsfenononn.PATH, 'ANDflAIfBERT F. MILLER, OFDENVER,

' COLORADO.

BOX AND PLUNGER AND BLANK, REmsTEnINGMEcHisNIsM.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we MELVILLE E. .Pn'riins a I 2 GEORGE H. FATH, and ALBERT. F. M1LLER,

citizens of the United States" of America, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented a new. and useful Box and Plunger and Blank Beg istering Mechanism, ofv which the following is a specification. i

Our invention relates to an automatically operating box receiving plunger and 7 box and blank registering and gluing together mechanism; and the objects of our invention are:

First, to provide a mechanism for regis tering a box against and gluing its'bottonr to a gummed blank while 1t 1s on-the blank delivering table of the blank gumming ma chine. r

Second, to provide an JautoinaticboX and blank registering mechanismby which man- 7 ually placed boxes are automatically glued y to theblank whileon. theblankgumnnng machine, and then manuallyremoved from the blank gumming machine and placed on the plunger of a box wrapping machine;

And

'Third, to provide aniabsolutely automatic method of registerin unwrapped boxes directlyonto the gummed blanks as they are fed from the gumming cylinder while they in which are on the delivering table of the gumming Figure 1', is a side elevation of a portion of a machine embodying our invention.

Fig.2, is a vertical, longitudinal sectional View thereof.

Fig. 3, is a plan view of the same.

. Fig. 4, is a rear view of a portion of the frame of the machine, showing the several cams and levers actuated thereby for operating the various movable parts.

Fig. is a transverse, vertical, sectional view through the blank receiving table and the means forsupporting the same under.

the pressure of theibox receiving plunger.

Fig. 6, through a portion of one of the side frames, showing the mechanism by which the suction tube support is reoiprocated, and the vacuum pump operated.

Fi e, is vertiqel; sectionelview though 7.

detached. And

thatjsupports a cross 'v'oke '5.

1 chine.

is a horizontal, sectional view s ecifiaaaenumerate. Waterman-av 22,1917. Application filed April as, i916, {swam 94,2112. 7 l i one the suctiontubes, its support,- and the hollow .shaft upon whlch the support is m unted.-

] Figf8,is a vertical, sectional view through Fig. 9,13 a detail front viewshowing the plunger and the box stripping mechanism connected therewith. F g. 1.0,.1s a horizontal, sect onal new through; the plunger bar,'showing the latch .mechanisn'i for locking the box stripper bar.

Fig. 11, is a front view of 'the 'stripper Fig. 12, is a perspective box resting upon a blank. v

'Sllhllillf letters of reference refer to sumview of a paper in parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, f Figure l .illustratesa side elevation of the blank delivery. and the boxjand plunger ,7 registering mechanism of .our invention.

In this figure as well as [in the other figures ,of our drawings, the numeral 1 designates afragment of the supporting frame of our invention; The fragment of the f frame illustrated is the rear or discharging .end of the frame of the gummlng mach1ne..

This frame consists of two side framesQ and 2 spacedat suflicient distances apart to receive most of the machines mechanism between them.- These. side framesZand 2 rest'on and'are secured to a base plate and.

a cross brace bar 3 is extended between these frames and extends between and is bolted tol'them to rigidly securefthem together. The rear end ofea'ch frame is provided withua r'earwardly. extending arm I, This cross yoke is rigidly bolted to, the ends of the arms and extends in arch'form over the mamechanism and then t'oa conveying mechanism; we do not however, illustrate the blank, feeding and gummingmechanism, but we illustrate only thedischarging end of the endless blank conveye'r transmission mechan sm. r

' The machine and its gumming mechanism,

as well as the blankreceiving end of the conveyer, and all of the blank conveying mechanism, are illustrated in our pending app cat on Serial Number scan,

The blanks are fed to gumming filed May 25, 1915, for a pneumatically controlled and automatically operating blank gumining and tempering machine.

In that pending application the blanks are fed to a blank feeding roller and this feed roller feeds them to a gumming cylinder, from which they are transferred to an endless conveyer, the end of which that lies adjacent to the gumming cylinder is supported by sprocket wheels, and the center of the conveyer which is provided with blank supporting aprons runs over a gapped cylinder, which we term a transmission cylinder. This conveyer has an intermittent movement and it stops long enough at its reverse turning point, which is marked by an arrow, which point we call its stopping or discharging station. We do not illustrate the mechanism that intermittently starts, runs and stops this endless conveyer, as it is controlled by the rotary movement of the gumming cylinder, and is illustrated in the above mentioned application.

Each blank supporting apron of this con veyer is provided with a plurality of blank gripping fingers, which enter the gap of the transmission cylinder as the aprons rotate, and they are positioned to grip each blank by its forwardly feeding edge as it is coated with gum by the gumming cylinder, and peel it off from the gumming cylinder onto its adjacent apron against the top surface of which the blank feeds out flat or as the apron turns up over the peripheral surface of the transmission cylinder.

The aprons with the blanks on them travel in a straight horizontal plane from the top of the transmission cylinder to its stopping station, from which point it runs over sprocket wheels and a roller and then down and back to an idler supporting memher and then up to the transmission cylinder.

The above brief description is all that is deemed necessary of the blank feeding gumming and the blank receiving end of the endless apron conveyer that delivers the blanks to the air gripping tubes of our box and blank registering mechanism.

Our present invention does not appertain to the blank feeding or gumming mechanism. Consequently we deem it sufficient to say that the blanks are properly gummed and are fed onto the conveyer, and are de livered to apparatus which we will presently describe that transmits them one at a time onto a table where an ungummed box is placed directly and centrally on top of and against the gummed surface of the blank. The conveyer consists of the oppositely ar ranged side chains 6, which are mounted on sprocket wheels 7 that are secured on the opposite ends of a shaft 8, on which a roller 9 is mounted and secured.

A bar 10 is placed across and between the sprocket chains, the opposite ends of which are secured to the sides of the links they are placed between.

This bar 10 forms the advance feeding end, which is the end that is traveling forward to convey the blanks from their guinming mechanism to the discharging end and stopping station of the conveyer and of the blank supporting aprons 11. These aprons are preferably made of rubberized cloth but may be made of any other suitable material. They are made wide enough and long enough to support on their top surface the largest size blanks the gumming machine will apply a coat of adhesive gum or glue to. Their advancing edge is secured to the bar 10 by a clamping strip 12, that is seated in a stepped recess 13, that is preferably inclined downwardly and forwardly from the top surface of the bar. The clamping strip is secured to the bar by flush headed screws 14:, which when loosened permit the edge of the apron to be tucked under it. The edge of the apron is then clamped by the screws and strip against the inclined stepped portion of the bar. The opposite end of each apron is secured to a bar 15, that extends across and between the sprocket chains of the conveyer, and secured to the links of the chain it is placed against. There are a number of ways of securing the rear end of each apron to its supporting cross bar, but we preferably lace this end of the apron to these cross bars by a lacing 16, which is laced through suitably formed apertures formed both through the edge of the apron and through the bars.

The lacing permits the apron to be stretched tightly between its supporting bars, and to be tightened and adjusted from time to time as it stretches. There are preferably nine of these aprons in the length of this endless conveyer, and they are spaced at a distance apart that will allow them to receive the blanks from the blank gumming cylinder of the machine.

The top of this bar is provided at inter vals across its length with thin disks 17, which are provided with stem portions 18 that are inserted in the top of the bar so that the disks rest fiat against the top of the bar. These disks make raised flat round points for the advancing or forwardly moving blanks to rest on, as will be presently described.

Two rows of these disks 17 and 20 are provided, one row being offset slightly to one side of the other, and the disks of one row are preferably set close to the disks of the other row, and both rows are of the same height.

The tops of'each disk 17 in one of thebe presently explained, while the top of each disk 20 in the other row of disks is engaged pers we do not'explaininflthis application, as it only forms a cooperativepart of-our present invention, and because it is'fully explained in our above-mentioned pending application, and in our pending application Serial Number 76,992, filed February 5th, 1916, for a gummed blank and unwrapped box registering-mechanism for blank and label gumming machin'es.- j

It is only necessary to say that the grippers 19 are mounted on ja'squa-re rod 19 which is mounted in bearings 19 on the zpin which extends loosely through an aper- I ture in the hub to receive it, which aperture ismade enough larger in diameter than the bar 10 and areactuatcd'to clamp the edges of the blanks against the bar 10 bysprings The topsof the disks 20. act as abutments to the yielding pressure of the tubes. Then instantlyafter the tubes bear firmly against v he disks 20 the suction forceacting in the Our preferred construction of the mechanism that accomplishes these functions is as follows, although our invention contemplates any and every and allmeans by which they can-be accomplished; I

To the side frame 2 of the machine, vertically I reciprocating bar 24: is slidably mounted in'guideways25 and 26 that are.

formed on the side frame. This bar is reciproca-ted by a cam groove 27 that is engaged by a roller 23. This roller is pivotally mounted on a laterally projecting lug portion that is'formed on'the lowerend of the bar. This vertically reciprocating bar extends above the side frame 2, and at its upper end it is provided with a crossbar portion 29, which forms a slideway. cross head 30 is slidably, mounted on the slideway ofthe cross bar. This cross head is provided with a laterally extendinghub 31, that extends at right anglesto the longitudinal axis of the machineand toward the opposite side frame 2 land' 'a tubular shaft 32 extends into it andisi'igidly secured to it. This tubular shaft has an axial aperture that extends from its inner end to near its opposite end. Both ends however are plugged up and an airinlet aperture 33 is made through-the hub 31, and through the tubular shaft into .it. This-tubular shaft extends over the roller on which the aprons ofthe conveyer turn, and, it is positioned to move vertically and reciprocally above and toward the roller, a distance sufficient to allowthe air suction tubes mounted thereon to grip and lift theblanks and carry them i above and deposit them on the table 22.

:Each of these blanksuction gripping tubes is mounted on a tubular shaft and has a trate. six of these air suction tubes, although a greater or less number of them may be used if desired.

Each of these air suction tubes comprises a tube holding stem 34: that is provided,

with a hub 35 which is loosely mounted on the tubular shaft and is held thereon by a pintoallow' the hub and its stem a turning movement on the tubular shaft of about anei'ghth of aninch. The stem 34 is prokvided with a rearwardly extending lug portion 36 through which ascrew 37 is threaded to stand vertically. A horizontal pin 38 passes through a seat in the hub 35 and is screwed-into the tubular shaft 32, and a coiled compression spring 39 is mounted on the screw 37 and bears at its lower end against the outer end of the pin 38. The top. end of the screw 37 is provided with a screw driver slot to enable it to be turned to adjust the screw 37 which carries a washer 40 that bears upon the top of the spring,

so that the tensionof the spring may be varied. *A nutf tl isalso threaded to the screw and is turned against the top of the lug to lock it in adjusted positions. Each tube holding stem is provided with a vertical lug member at its outer end that is provided with a vertical aperture, in which one 1 of .the suction tubes 21 isslidably mounted.

'These suction tubes are each adjustably, se-

cured in its respective vertical slideway by a setscrew 42.

tubes is provided with an axial bore 43 that extends intoits lower end to near its top end, and an aperture 44 is formed through Each of these air suction its side The stem 34 is also provided with an axial aperture 45 that registers at one end'with the side aperture in the suction tube 21, and at its opposite end with an aperture 466 that is formed throughthe adjacent side of the tubular shaft 32 into its axial aperture 7. ,The upper end of each air suction tube is providedwith a knurled surface that enables the tube to be easily heldbythe'fingersof an attendant; As the air inlet ends of those air suction tubes are constantly engaging the gummed surfaces of the. blanks, they are each slightly coated with gum when they release a blank on the table, and it is necessary that some means he .employedto wipe orwash their ends in order to wash oif from them any moist gum that may be on them.

e preferably employ for this purpose a vertically swinging or partially rotating series of arms 48, that dip into a body of water that is held in a pan 49 which is secured to a bar 4, which is secured to the side frames. These arms have roller wipers 50 at their ends made of felt or other water absorbing material, and they are moved up out of the water by a cam 51 and lever actuating mechanism 52 into the path of the ends of the tubes, as they move backward on the return or last stroke of their reciprocal movement, and each wiper is positioned to engage and to be engaged by the blank engaging end of a tube just after the tubes have deposited their blank on the table. In a similar manner the ends of the finger grippers 19 that engage the gummed surface of each blank, are washed and wiped between their blank releasing station and the transmission cylinder, and we preferably employ a set of rotating wipers not shown that pass through a pan containing a suitable supply of water. Each wiper engages a finger gripper a it passes the pan and wipes the glue off from it.

Upon the back of the reciprocating cross head 30 a toothed rack 53 is secured in which a pinion 54L meshes. This pinion is mounted on one end of a vertical shaft 55, and as this pinion is rotated in reverse directions it reciprocates the cross head in opposite directions on the bar 29. The opposite end of the rod extends to near the base plate of the machine, and its lower portion is square in cross section and passes slidably through a corresponding aperture in a pinion 56, which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 57, secured to the adjacent side frame. The pinion 56 meshes with a toothed rack portion 58 that is formed on one end of a bar 59 that is reciprocally mounted in suitable bearings 60 that are secured to the frame work of the machine. The opposite end of this bar is also provided with a toothed rack portion 61 that meshes with a pinion 62 that is mounted on one end of a stub shaft 63 that is rigidly mounted in a suitable bearing 64 that is secured to the bed plate. A gear 65 is secured on the hub of the pinion 62, and this gear meshes with a toothed rack portion 66 that is formed on one end of a rack bar 67 which is slidably mounted in suitable bearings 68 that are attached to the frame. The opposite end of this rack bar is pivotally connected to one end of a link 69, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to one end of a lever 70, the opposite end of which is pivotally secured to a shaft 71, which is supported in the side frames of the machine. A roller 72 is pivotally secured to this ever intermediate of its ends,

which projects into an inclosed cam runway track that is formed on one side of a cam disk 73 that is mounted on a shaft 74:, which rotatively drives the cam and the cam reciprocates the lever and the lever through the medium of the link 69 reciprocates the rack bar 67 which rotates the gears 62 and 65 and the gear 62 drives the rack bar 5.9 which rotates the vertical shaft 55 and its upper pinion 54: reciprocates the cross head and the air suction tubes from the stopping station of the conveyer, where they pick up a blank, to the top of the table 22, where they deposit it, as will be presently described.

The blank receiving table consists of a rectangular shaped flat piece of any suitable material, preferably aluminum, which is secured at its opposite sides to tooth rack bars 75, that are reciprocally mounted in suitable guideways 76 that are formed in bars 77 that are secured to the opposite side frames of the machines. The gear teeth of these rack bars are engaged by two gears 78 that are secured on the opposite end portions of a shaft 79 that extends transversely across the machine and is rotatably journaled in bearings formed on the side frames. A pinion 80 is also secured on this shaft 79 which is engaged by the gear teeth of a vertically positioned rack bar 81 which is reciprocally mounted in bearings 82 that are secured to the adjacent side frame. The central portion of this reciprocating bar is provided with a block 83 that is slidably and adjustably bolted by a bolt 84L in a slot 85 that is formed in the bar, through which the bolt passes. To the block 83 is pivotally secured one end of a rod 86, the other end of which is pivotally secured to one end of a lever 87. The opposite end of this lever is rigidly connected to a short shaft 88, which is pivotally mounted in the frame and a lever 89 is secured upon the opposite end of the shaft 88 to which a roller 90 is pivotally secured to it and arranged to extend into an inclosed cam runway track 91 that is formed on one side of the cam 51, which is secured on the shaft 74:- The cam as it rotates causes the lever to reciprocate the vertical rack bar,

wiper rollers. When in operation, these air suction tubes move back to a position centrally above the roller 9 and when in that position the rear edge of the table moves back to the dotted line A. This edge of the table comprises a hollow bar 92, having suction apertures 93.. The air suction tubes 21 receive the air suction force from an air pump that is mounted on the base plate of the machine, and this pump is operatively connected by a pipe 96 to the air inlet aperture183 that; is formed on the hub 81 of the cross head that connects with the axial aperture of the tubular shaft 32. The air pump piston connecting or piston rod is pivotally connected at its outer end to one end of a lever 97, the opposite end of which is piv-- otally mounted on the shaft 71 and this lever is provided with a roller intermediate of its 7 ends that projects into an inclosed cam" runway track, that is formed on'one .side ofvthe disk 73 that is mounted on the shaft 74. The rotary movement of the cam reciprocates the 7 piston of the air pump, which is timed to: create an air suction drawing force in the entrances of all of the air inlet tubes simultaneously, thus causing them to suck and draw to them thatportion ofthe blank each tube bears against; and this suction drawing force is strong enough to cause the tubes to grip each blank tight enough to lift it up from the conveyer when they are moved ver tically upward, and to hold it while they are moved forwardly over thetable, and-to release it by the reverse movement of the piston, which breaks the suction force instantly after the tubes have moved down and pressesthe blankdownagainst the surface of the table against which the tubesrest soas to press the blank down and tightly against the air suction inlet apertures of the advancing edge ofthe' table, which are posi tioned transversely along the advancing edge of the table close. to and inv alinement with and between the points on the tablethe tubes move down and rest on and hold the blank against, I Theftables blank gripping airinlet apertures .93 extend through the top surface of the table into a hollowchamber 98, that is formed in the bar 92, to whichone end of a 'hose 94 is connected, that connects to a'oam and'lever actuated air pump which we do not illustrate, as it is ofthe sameeonstruction and arrangement as the airpump and its cam and lever actuated mechanism the plunger, which we accomplish in the following manner, so that the plunger and table will work coiiperatively together.

The-cross yoke 5 is provided-with a forwardly extending arm 99 on; the outer end ofwhich av vertical slideway 100 is formed, in which a vertical plunger bar 101'is reciprocally mounted. To the lower end of this plunger bar we secure the box supporting plunger of form 23, upon which the un-- .wrapped box shells are placed. Consequently the arm 99 and'its slideway 100is positioned to allow the plunger with a box on it to be positioned'so as to allow the box tobe-moved down centrally into the central body portionof the gummed blank on the table.

e? plunger is reciprocated by a rock arm .102 and a cam and lever actuated mechanism, which is constructed and arranged as follows Theiock mm 102 is suitably connected at oneendtothe plunger bar 101, and its opposite end is rigidly secured upon a shaft 103, which is mounted in bearings 104,

-whic-h extend from the horizontal member of the cross yoke 5. Upon the outer end of theshaft 108 is rigidly secured a lever 105, the opposite end. of which is pivotally connected to one end of a connecting rod 106, the opposite end o-fwhich is connected to one end a rock arm 107, which is rig dly connected to one end of a short shaft 108,, .which-ismountedin the adjacent side frame. To the opposite end of the shaft 108 is rigidly secured a lever 8 the opposite end fwhichis provided with a roller 109 ;that engages a cam groove that is formed on one side ofa-disk 110 that is secured on the; power driven shaft 74. The box supporting," plungers or fo-rmsare preferably made of wood and are rectangular wooden blocks iill are removably and interchangeably securecl tr 1 the plunger bar. They are made to fit closely' within and against the inside sides,- ends and corners of each size of box theiblanks re applied to.

Consequently. each size box must havea plunger made to fit it. Each plunger is provided with a box stripper which remains inthe box and holds it down against tl etop" o'f the" table, untilthe plunger moves upoutofsthe: box. This stripper comprises a blade 111 which fits in a recess formed in the under side ofthe plunger, and it is an ranged and operates to hold and release the box as 9 follows Tothe center of the blade the lower en of a rod 1121is s ecured,which extends up through. a slideway formed in the head block 100 of thearm' 99, and'the upper end i of it is connected to one end of a coiled spring 113, the opposite end of which is connected to- 'the upper end of theplu'nger bar101. One edgeof the rod 112 ofv the stripper'is provided with a notch 114 which engages and locks to an L-shaped latch 115 block .100 of the fixed arm 99. This latch is provided with a spring 116'that normally that is slidably mounted ontop ofthe head holds it against the side of the rod with sufiicient resilient pulling pressure to cause it to jump into the notch 114s of the rod when the rod is moved down with the plungers bar 101.- The spring 113 of the rod is arranged with sufficient contractive tension to normally hold the stripper blade up into its recess in the bottom of the plunger. Consequently it moves down with the plunger and rests inside of the bottom of the box when the plunger moves down against the bottom of the box and presses it down against the top of the table, and the notch 1141 in the rod is so relatively positioned to the spring latch that when the plunger is down tight in the box and against the top of the table it locks the rod 112 of the stripper to the stationary head of the fixed arm 99, with the lower edge of its blade resting against the bottom of the box. Then when the plunger starts upward the stripper stays down in and holds the box against the table 22. This upward movement of the plunger and its bar stretches the spring 113 of the stripper until the stripper is released from its latch. This is accomplished by a cam 117 which is secured to the side of the plunger bar in a position to engage a roller 118 on the latch when the plunger has moved out of the box, and move the latch out of the notch of the strippers rod, which then releases the stripper and allows the contractive tension of the spring which has been stretched out by the upward travel of the plungers bar to jerk the stripper up into its recess in the plunger, thus fully releasing the box from the action of the upper plunger and leaving it resting loosely on top of the blank to which it is now tightly glued.

The table in order to withstand the pressure of the plunger 23 and still run smoothly and quickly under it, is reinforced on its under side by strips 119 which are secured to it. These strips extend from the air box portion 92 back to the rear end of the table, parallel with its side rack bars 75, and they are of the same depth as the depth of the air box 92, and their rear ends are curved to the under side of the table, and they are parallel with the rack bars at the opposite sides of the table.

These strips stiffen the top surface of the table, and their edges form a slideway for the table in its reciprocal movements over its supporting base plate. This base plate comprises a cross bar 120 that is secured to the top ends of a pair of brackets 121, that are secured to the opposite side frames of the machine. In this cross bar we form a number of transverse slots, in each one of which we place a strip 122.

We preferably show four of these strips and they are arranged parallel with the reciprocal movement of the table, and they are preferably bolted to the cross bar 120. These strips 122 are arranged to register against the edges of the strips 119 of the table, and their rear ends are curved or tapered off so that the table will engage them and slide up and along them smoothly in case its forward end should hang down slightly below them.

The table, however, is arranged to just slide onto and along them and to rest firmly on them and maintain a perfectly level position. Consequently as the table reciprocates its strips 119 slide onto the strips 122 which are made long enough to form a firm support for the box gluing pressure of the plunger against the gummed surface of the blank. The position of the plunger is fixed relative to the movement of the table which has a variable forward stroke, but always starts from the point where it receives each blank from the air tubes, which point we call its blank receiving station, and the air suction apertures of the table always more back directly under the ends of the blank transmitting tubes 21. The forward throw of the table, however, is variable to bring the centers of small and large blanks directly under the center of the plunger 23, which is fixed.

As our machine .jVll]. gum and deliver blanks suitable to wrap boxes that vary in size from two by four to twelve by twenty inches square, and the center of the body portion of all sizes of blanks has to be brought directly under the vertical center of the plunger, and as all blanks are gripped by the air suction inlet apertures of the table at the advancing edge, the position of the centers of the blanks body portion varies on the table.

The table, however, is made to receive the twelve by twenty inch blanks and the center of a blank would naturally be at about the center of the height and breadth of the table, but the center of a blank two by four inches in size from its gripped end could be only a short distance from the air inlet apertures of the table. Consequently the table must have a variable throw forward stroke. The length of this outward-stroke is regulated by an abutment block 123 on the vertical rack bar 81.

The abutment 123 is adjust-ably secured to the rack bar 81 by a bolt 12s which passes through the slot 85 in said bar, and a lixed abutment block 125 is secured to the bar so as to bear against the lower end of the slide block 83, to which the connecting rod 86 is secured. When the abutment 123 is clamped down against the upper end of the block 83, the rack bars 75 are given their longeststroke and the table 22 is thus moved out far enough to accommodate the largest sized blank, but when a shorter movement of the table is required to acconnnodate smaller blanks, the abutment 123 is moved up a suitable distance above the top of the slide" shortened by decreasing the length of stroke of the bar 81in the manner above described. The bar 81 is depressed-by the engagement of the lower end of the block 83 with the fixed abutment 125 on the said bar 81.

By means of this adjustment, the center' of any size blank within the limits of the capacity of the machine is brought centrally under the plunger, and the box mounted thereon, the size of which must always be adapted to receive the blanks being gummed and delivered to it.

lVhen the machine'is in operation, an attcndantplaces the boxesone at a time on the plunger, and the plu'ngers actuating cam and rack arm connecting mechanism is timed to carry it down'on top of the blank the instant the blank-is delivered by the table in proper position under it. 1 I

The operation of our blank and box registering mechanism for blank gumming niachines, is as followsp The blanks are fed on the aprons in a continuous and successive stream tothe conveyers stopping and blank discharging sta-r tion, and then each blank is gripped at its advance edge portion, and is picked up by the air suction tubes 21 and is lifted up above the table and is carried fo-rward by these tubes to the front edge of' thetable.

lhe tubes then move down andplace the edge of the blank directly over the air suc- T tion inlet apertures of thetable, and press its edge against them and instantly after the tables air suction inlet apertures gripfthe the blanks without their clinging to it. The

cam actuated air pump then creates an air suction; vacuum force in the air box and in the air inlet apertures, which grips the blank tightly to the top ,of thetable immediately adjacent' to these air inlet apertures. The table isthen moved quickly ahead tothe regulated forward stroke that will bring the central. body portion of the size of blank that is being gummed bythe-gumming machine and conveyed to the table and delivered by it to the box on the plunger. Then the instant the table comes to a stop at the end of its forward. stroke, it has moved over and rests firmly on its fixed supporting base. Then the plunger cam actuated mechanism is timed to move the box on the plunger down on the blank and the bottom of the box strikes the gummed central body portion of the blank, and the plunger exerts sufiicient pressure against the blank to firmly and smoothly glue the box to it. The plunger is then raised by its cam mechanism, but as it starts up the stripper bar stays down against the bottom of the box, holding it down against the blank until the plunger has moved up out of the box,

when the stripper is released and flies quickly upward intoits recess in the plunger. The attendant then picks the box with the blank glued to its bottom and places it on the plunger of a box wrapping machine.

As soon'as the box and blank are removed from the delivery table, the tables cam ac tuated gearing mechanism operates to return the table to its blank receiving station, where the transmitting tubes deliver another blank to its air inlet apertures. Our invention provides an automatically and positively operating box and gummed blank registering mechanism that enables the unwrapped boxes to be accurately centered on and glued to the freshly gummed blanks before'they leave the delivery table of'the blank gumming machine, and while we have illustrated and described the preferred construction of our plunger box cen-i tering mechanism, we do not wish to be limited to it as many changes might be made without departing from the spirit of. our inyention.

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

Having described our invention, what we 1. A blank delivery table for blank gum- V V ming machines, comprising in combination with a box guiding plunger, a variable stroke reciprocating table, means for delivering a blank on said table, and means for: gripping the blank to and for releasing it from said table, and means for moving said plunger to register said box against said blank.

2; In a combined blank delivery table and. a box delivering plunger for blank gumming machines, arranged to register boxes against the blanks on the blank gumming machine, a blank gumming and transferring mechanism, afiat reciprocating variable stroke ta ble member, and means for gripping and holding the blank for a predeterminedperiod of time on said table member, and

means including a cam actuated mechanism for operating the plunger to register the box and glue itto saldblank.

3. The combination in a gummed blank and box registering mechanism, comprising blank gumming and conveying mechanism,

with a table arranged to receive and hold the blank in a predetermined position, means including a cam actuated box supporting plunger provided with a box stripping mechanism for guiding a box centrally against the gummed side of the blank, comprising a gummed blank conveying mechanism, a table arranged to receive the blanks from said conveyer mechanism, a plurality of air suction air inlet apertures in said table connect- .ed to operative air suction force producing mechanism for holding said blanks on said table in a predetermined position, and ad justable box end and side engaging clips a1 ranged over said table to guide the boxes centrally onto the blanks on said table.

at. The combination in a gummed blank and box registering mechanism comprising operative blank gumming mechanism, a blank receiving and gripping table, and blank conveying means for moving the blanks one at a time from said blank gumming means to a predetermined position on said table, said conveyer including an endless conveyer arranged to feed the blanks from said gumming mechanism, a set of air suction tubes for receiving said blanks from said conveyer mechanism, and delivering them on said table, a box receiving plunger reciprocally mounted above said table and arranged to move and press the boxes against the blanks on said table, and a fixed abutment support under said table arranged to receive the pressure of said plunger.

5. In a gummed blank and unwrapped box registering table, and plunger mechanism, the combination with operative blank gumming and conveying mechanism, comprising an operative blank feeding roller and a gumming cylinder and an endless conveyer, said conveyer being provided with blank gripping and holding means, and with a stopping station, of a plurality of air suction blank gripping tubes arranged to engage said conveyer at its stopping station and grip and raise a blank therefrom, a

table reciprocally mounted adjacent to said blank gripping and lifting tubes, means for reciprocally moving said tubes over said table, means for lowering said tubes to deposit the blank on said table in a predetermined position, means including an air suction force connected with said table for gripping the blanks as they are deposited on its surface by said air suction tubes, means including gearing and a two part bar one part of which is adjustable on the other for lengthening or shortening the forward stroke of said table, into predetermined positions, a box supporting plunger on said machine above said table, means including cam actuated rock arm mechanism for moving said plunger to register a box centrally on and to press them against the blank on said table whereby said box is glued to said blank and a fixed support on said machine projecting under said table arranged to receive the pressure of said plunger against said blank and table.

6. In a gummed blank and unwrapped box registering table, the combination with operative blank gumming and conveying mechanism, said conveyer being provided with blank gripping and holding means and with a stopping station, said conveyer being provided with a blank releasing mechanism at its stopping station, of a plurality of air suction blank gripping tubes arranged to engage said conveyer at its stopping station and grip and raise a blank therefrom, a table reciprocally mounted adjacent to said blank gripping and lifting tubes, means for reciprocally moving said tubes over said table, means for lowering said tubes to deposit the blank on saidtable in a predetermined position, means including an air suction force connected with said table for gripping the blanks as they are deposited on its surface by said air suction tubes, and means including a box supporting and guiding plunger arranged to automatically place and press a box centrally on and against the blank on said table, whereby said box is adhesively glued to said blank, brackets extending forward from said machine, a cross bar extending across the ends of said bracket, and means connected with the under side of said table and said cross strip whereby said table moves onto and is supported against the pressure of said plunger.

7. The combination of an operative gummed blank feeding gumming and con veying mechanism, with a reciprocating table adapted to receive the gunnned blanks in a predetermined position, means including gearing for imparting a variable length forward stroke to said table, said means including the slotted vertical bar, the sliding sleeve, the adjustable knob, and the cam actuated bar secured to said sleeve.

8. In a combined box registering and blank registering table for blank gumming machines, the combination of the gumming cylinder, the conveyer and the transmission tubes, means including cam actuated gearing for imparting a variable forward stroke to said table, said table comprising a sheet of aluminum provided with a plurality of air suction blank gripping apertures, means including a cam actuated lever operating mechanism for creating an air suction blank gripping force in said apertures, an operative box receiving and gripping plunger mounted above said table, means including a cam and rock arm mechanism for moving the plunger to register the box against the blank of said table, and a suitable fixed support for said table adapted to receive the pressure of said plunger.

9. The combination of an operative blank feeding and gumming mechanism, with the gummed blank conveyer, sald conveyer being provided with a stopping station, a vertically reciprocating bar provided with.

a cross bar portion at its upper end extending above said conveyer, a cross head reciprocally mounted in said horizontal cross bar to move in ahorizontal plane, a plurality of air suction inlet blank gripping tubes carried by said cross head and connected to an air suction force producing mechanism, cam actuated means for moving said air suction blank gripping tubes, a reciprocating blank supporting table and cam actuated means for reciprocally moving said air suction tubes down onto said conveyor and for gripping a blank and raising it up and abovethe table and for conveying it over and lowering it down on the table in a predetermined position, the reciprocating plunger supported over said table, means including a cam actuated mechanism for reciprocating said box registering plunger against a blank on said table, means for imparting a variable outward throw stroke to said table, and means for supporting said table against the pressure thrusts of said plunger.

10. In a gummed blank and plunger supporting box registering mechanism,thecombination with the blank gumming cylinder and the endless conveyer, of the vertical and horizontal reciprocal movement, air suction blank gripping tubes each of which is provided with a resiliently yielding pressure blank engaging mechanism, means including a supporting slideway for vertically adjusting each tube independent of the others, a blank receiving reciprocating variablestroke table adjacent to said tubes, and means for imparting a combined vertical blank lifting, conveying and depositing movement to said tube whereby they move down, engage, pick up and convey the blanks one at a time over said table and then move down and deposit them at a predetermined point against the surface of said table,

air suction blank gripping apertures on said table adapted to receive and grip said blanks, and means including the brackets, the cross bar and the strips on the table, and the cross bar for supporting said table underthe pressure of the plunger.

11. The combination in a gummed blank and plunger supporting box registering mechanism, of the blank gumming mechanism, the endless conveyer, the::reciprocating blank gripping air suction tubes, and the finger cleaning wipers, with a tube and cleaning mechanism comprising a roller arranged in the rearwardly moving stroke of each tube, a liquid containing box below said wipers roller, and means for dipping moving them into wiping relation with the end of each tube and finger gripper whereby the blank engaging end of each is cleaned, a' box supporting reciprocating plunger mounted on said machine above said stable, means including the cam, the rock arms and the connecting rod for reciprocating said box carrying plunger against the blank on said table, means including the cam and spring actuated mechanism for stripping the box from said plunger, and means including the bracket, the cross bar, and the strips for supporting the table against the pressure of said plunger.

12. The combination in a blank gumming machine, of operative blank feeding, gumming and conveying mechanism provided with a discharging station, with an aluminum table provided with a blank receiving station, comprising a row of air suction blank gripping inlet apertures adapted to receive and grip the blank at the conveyer discharging station, means for imparting a variable throw stroke to said table, means including a cam actuated mechanism for creating an air suction force in said air inlet apertures, a box supporting plunger, mounted on said table, arranged to manuand gumming mechanism and the endless chain and air suction conveyers, having a blank discharging station, with the aluminum reciprocating variable stroke table pro vided with the air inlet blank gripping apertures, the air box on the under side of said table, and means including the cam actuated air pump for creating an air suction force in said air inlet apertures, and with the box holdingplunger, means for reciprocating said plunger against said blank and table, and means for supporting said table to resist the pressure of said plunger.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

" MELVILLE E. PETERS.

GEORGE H. FATH. ALBERT F. MILLER. Witnesses G. SARGENT ELLIOTT, ELIZABETH SMITH.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

